OnlineSpin: Thoughts On 'The Team'

Last week Kendall wrote "Obama Community Post-Win, Now That He's Moved In." Clint Dixon wrote in response, "Ahh, politicians. The best laid plans of mice & men. The Clintons had ideals too -- so did Bush -- oddly, only Bush managed to get things done and that was ruining everything the Clintons had done. Just because we elected a biracial man for president does not mean anything will change. The puppetmasters are still old men resistant to change. Show me something new!" Mike Chapman wrote, "For the majority of Americans, including many who voted for his opponent, there is a great deal of hope and optimism associated with Obama's inauguration. The economy and public mood are in much need of a new direction. His willingness to include greater numbers of citizens through means of digital communications is promising. I know some of his folks and they're sincere and serious about the effort. To the other comments that are negative: I'd suggest you give the guy at least a week in office before attempting to blame him for any of the poor performances currently occurring in the economy."

Monday, January 26, 2009 Thoughts On 'The Team' By Kendall Allen Team-speak can sound trite. We innately understand the value of collaboration, building teams, team players, taking one for the team -- and so on. But until we've been impacted by a team fractured or wowed by one's success, we may not get it. One thing is certain -- when it comes to team, with a capital T, you will know one when you see one. During a recent panel discussion between David Verklin and Wenda Harris Millard, Verklin made a pointed remark about team, something to the effect of, "The Team is today's killer app." During other periods, this may have sounded obvious. But given the conversation's focus on fortifying to prevail in this market, it was an important thought. This chat coincided with a new book I've begun reading, "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team," by Patrick Lencioni. Neatly distilled, these familiar dysfunctions are: 1.Absence of trust 2.Fear of conflict 3.Lack of commitment 4.Avoidance of accountability 5.Inattention to results Not dealing with any number of these dysfunctions, particularly right now, creates deep risk. Ever since Verklin's remark and immersed in this timely read, I have been thinking about the Team and what's at stake -- as we build, serve and play within them. There are some situations especially reliant on killer teamwork and team quality that come to mind. When the playing field reorganizes. In today's market, many of us are charting or managing within rorganization and consolidation scenarios: merging companies, reconstituted media practices, streamlined account teams, new disciplines to incorporate. Because it will always be true that people differ in their level of experience, comfort, and skillful footwork on reorgs -- getting the team to thrive in these situations can be very challenging. It is often hard for people to trust in a future that is not fully in sight. This can result in a more generalized mistrust of their peers and their leaders. Therefore, listening more intently, leading the crew by example through terrain that may not be as black-and-white as they wish, and generally keeping momentum are all important to team health when reorg dynamics are in play. Enacting the ethos of accountability. At the same time, our clients and marketers -- even brand marketers -- are intensifying the focus on performance, conversion, and ROI; internal accountability has become a dominant theme in the workplace. At least, in the productive workplace, this ethic is clearly in play. A team can do itself a great service right now by establishing clear roles, relationships between those roles, and a shared sense of accountability -- to each other, the client, and the results. During stressful times, on the one hand, people may run the risk of being distracted. On the other hand, an opportunity exists to foster shared passion for accomplishing proud things as a team and sharing in the results. Integration as an unnatural act.. Whether you work for a media publishing company, on the client side, or for an agency, you likely are seeing an increase in integrated marketing and media approaches. But that does not necessarily mean that your company has a handle on how to organize and build teams for integrated approaches. Leading by example with sound strategic models, busting silos and driving an imperative for excellence are all things that chief executives would advise for establishing and institutionalizing integration. But it will always take more than having a vision keeper on media and marketing integration at the top. Getting management teams to maturity on this factor is a work in progress across the board. And, for me, it certainly is one of those I will know it when I see it accomplishments. The Team in many ways is an enigmatic being. When you factor in the variable paths and backgrounds; tableau of styles and personalities; biases and quirks; work ethics and motivators; and market contexts, it feels complicated. Yet when we think about the most hobbled or the most rockin' teams we have known -- it has always been very simple. The team either collectively believed in itself, or it did not. And, if it did, its members would become a force: a killer app. Post your response to the public Online SPIN blog. See what others are saying on the Online SPIN blog. Kendall Allen is senior vice president of Digital Marketing Services at MKTG, headquartered in New York City. Previously she was managing director of Incognito Digital, LLC, an independent digital media agency and creative studio. She also held top posts at iCrossing and Fathom Online. Online Spin for Monday, January 26, 2009: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.san&art_aid=99056

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